Summertime in the Sierra's

I have really gotten very behind in posts! So, I will play catch-up.

I have done several small trips this summer. My home garden tends to make me more of a home-body. We have taken the Four Wheel up to the local access of the Sierra Nevada's, Mendo and Olema beach trips and more of the backyard camping.

Also....

Bought an Ashford 'Traditional' spinning wheel. I plan to spin local fibers. (I want to do so much in this life-time.) I have washed 3 fleeces I bought from a local shearer. And have begun to use a prepared roving to practice. I'm not to bad at spinning. BJ Forester is teaching me some. As well, as I am gathering information with 'Start Spinning' by Maggie Casey.

By the way...

By the way....I'm a Grandma now. Izaiah is 4 months old. I'm still not sure of being a Grandma already! However, he is the cutest little cherub a Gma could ask for! When I see him...it makes my day. When my daughter shares her experience with me I feel much joy! It is beautiful to witness love!

Natural Dyeing and planting dye plants

I planted many dye plants in my garden this spring. Some of the plants are: madder, marigold, zinnias, fennel, coreopsis, black eyed susan, indigo, sun flowers....

I have started to harvest Indigo, marigold, coreopsis, black eyed susan, sunflower, fennel. I have also gathered local a Desert Sage and used Rebecca's recipe for dyeing.

I found local yarn-Full Belly Farms. I'm getting some very interesting results and the process is kinda like chemistry.

A few photos of garden and dye process included for the Indigo, coreopsis, and marigold. I am reading books on plant dying such as: 'Harvesting Color'

by Rebecca Burgess and 'A Dyer's garden' by Rita Buchanan. I have 'Wild Color' and another book on plant dying. However, the first two books are my favs. The final yarns Indigo=blue , Marigold=yellows, Coreopsis=orange/burnt sienna. I really like the coreopsis result best!

I have been keeping in touch with my son via Facebook. Get to see posts of my daughter who is pregnant with her first child. My first grandchild. It is a boy. I played with some photos she posted to create this piece. I do feel good when I can be visually creative.

Knitting up a storm

My xmas present to several family members this year is knitted and then felted slippers. I've been knitting a lot this month!

These are slippers before felting. My 12 lbs dog here gives you a perspective of how big they begin.

Sewing projects

Finished two projects practicing on my new Pfaff 2140.

First I created a circular needle holder(I really should take before and after photos--often forget and then get interested in documenting the end results). Many of you knitters already can relate to the jumbled & tangled mess these needles get themselves into! But, walla...organized!

Next I worked a birthday present for my Niece. She is turning 8(I learned to crochet @ this age). I made her a bag for her first knitting project.